Venting vs. Fixed skylights

Tubular skylights do not provide ventilation, but most types of skylights do. Skylights are excellent for natural ventilation and for expelling saturated indoor air.

Natural ventilation

Venting skylights are excellent in natural ventilation and cooling strategies in moderate and hot climates. Besides temperature control, they may also contribute to a proper moisture balance. All that for a minimal or no additional cost...

Venting skylights can be installed on a wide range of slopes.

Expelling saturated indoor air

Venting skylights are particularly useful in kitchens and bathrooms, as a mean to create an updraft to expel saturated indoor air.

Waterproofing

To ensure waterproofing and efficiency, a proper installation and an appropriate flashing system is crucial. Venting skylights do not collide with the roofing materials (shingles and shakes, high profile roofing, metal roofing…) and present the same glass options or sizes as fixed skylights.

Disadvantages of venting skylights

Venting skylights are more complex structures, which make them more prone to condensation and leakage problems.

The main disadvantages of venting skylights are associated with the way they operate and the frequent difficulty of reaching them. Whenever they aren’t installed within reach, manual operation can be unpleasant and motorized hand crank operation might be also non-practical or uneasy, which may cause people not to use the skylight ventilation option as often as expected.

Operation by remote control and temperature sensors

To overcome the inconvenience of manual operation and the difficulties to access the skylights, modern skylight technology offer remote control operation and electric on/off switch, and also operation by automatic sensors. Larger manufacturers are offering these types of skylights.

Venting vs. Fixed skylights

Fixed skylights are simpler and cheaper structures, without the inconveniences or the additional costs of venting skylight operation. Besides, they are slightly less prone to hazards or leakage (their technology is largely coincident with that of fixed skylights, but the inherent simplicity of fixed skylights ensures higher reliability).

On the other hand, fixed skylights do not offer the advantages of natural ventilation, or the possibility of expelling saturated air...

It’s up to you to choose after pondering the pros and cons.